An account of large houses that were requisitioned during World War II by the government or donated by their owners for use as schools, barracks, hostels for evacuees, hospitals, convalescent homes, intelligence, strategic and military heaquarters. Although comparatively few country houses were destroyed as a direct result of enemy bombing, a very considerable number were irreparabley damaged by their new tenants, several being burnt to the ground. Many anecdotes are included. John Martin Robinson has also written The Wyatts , Royal Residences , The Dukes of Norfolk , The Latest Country Houses , The Architecture of Northern England and The English Country Estate .